Bihar Board Class 10 · Science · Matric exam 2027
Chapter 3: Metals and Non-metals
This chapter’s questions from Bihar Board (BSEB)’s real papers of 2021–2026 — the 20 asked most often, 3 with the full model answer, 16 with how the answer begins — and objective questions with the board’s key. All 22 questions of this chapter, with answers, are in the app.
- marks a year (about)
- 6
- questions a year (about)
- 8
- rank in Science
- #5
From 6 years of papers, 2021–2026 · full chapter-wise marks
VVI questions — the ones the board asked most (20)
- Q1Short answer2 marksAsked: 2022, 2025
Why is sodium metal kept immersed in kerosene?
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Model answer · reactivity, sodium stored in kerosene
- 1.Sodium metal is a highly reactive metal. It reacts so vigorously with the oxygen and moisture present in the air that it catches fire if kept in the open.1 mark
- 2.Sodium metal is kept immersed in kerosene oil because this prevents the metal from coming into contact with air. In this way, kerosene protects sodium from the oxygen and moisture of air and prevents accidental fires.1 mark
- Write the word 'reactive' or 'reacts vigorously' to show why sodium is dangerous in open air.
- Write the word 'kerosene' (or kerosene oil) clearly as the substance sodium is immersed in.
- Mention 'fire' or 'accidental fires' as the reason kerosene immersion is needed.
Marks split from a structure derived from past papers (checked twice); not Bihar Board’s official scheme
- Q2Short answer2 marksAsked: 2022, 2026
What are minerals ?
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Model answer · minerals, definition
- 1.The elements or compounds, which occur naturally in the earth's crust, are known as minerals.1 mark
- 2.Minerals are substances that have a definite chemical composition.1 mark
- Write the exact phrase 'occur naturally in the earth's crust' in the first paragraph.
- State clearly that minerals have a 'definite chemical composition' in the second paragraph.
Marks split from a structure derived from past papers (checked twice); not Bihar Board’s official scheme
- Q3Short answer2 marksAsked: 2021, 2026
What is called ductility ?
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Model answer · ductility, metals
- 1.The property of metals by which they can be drawn into thin wires is called ductility.1.5 marks
- 2.Gold is the most ductile metal.0.5 marks
- Begin the answer with the word 'ductility' as the property that lets metals be drawn into thin wires.
- Do not forget to state that gold is the most ductile metal as a separate line.
Marks split from a structure derived from past papers (checked twice); not Bihar Board’s official scheme
- Q4Short answer5 marksAsked: 2021
How is aluminium metal extracted from its ore?
How the model answer begins
1. The main ore of aluminium is bauxite (Al2O3.2H2O), which contains impurities like Fe2O3 and SiO2. This bauxite ore is concentrated by Bayer's process using NaOH solution to remove the impurities and obtain pure alumina…
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q5Long answer5 marksAsked: 2025
Differentiate between metals and non-metals on the basis of physical and chemical properties.
How the model answer begins
1. Metals, in their pure state, have a shining surface and this property is called metallic lustre. Metals are generally solids at room temperature. Non-metals have properties opposite to that of metals; they lack metallic…
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q6Long answer5 marksAsked: 2022
Name the main ore of mercury. Write the principle of extraction of mercury from it.
How the model answer begins
1. The main ore of mercury is cinnabar (HgS). Mercury is a metal low in the activity series, and it is found in nature as this sulphide ore.
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q7Long answer5 marksAsked: 2021
Copper is used to make hot water tank but not steel. Give reasons.
How the model answer begins
1. Copper is a very good conductor of heat. Metals are good conductors of heat and have high melting points, and the best conductors of heat are silver and copper. Since a hot water tank must transfer heat efficiently and…
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q8Long answer5 marksAsked: 2025
Differentiate between metals and non-metals on the basis of physical and chemical properties.
How the model answer begins
1. Metals, in their pure state, have a shining surface and this property is called metallic lustre, and all metals except mercury exist as solids at room temperature. Non-metals lack metallic lustre and can exist as…
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q9Short answer2 marksAsked: 2021
Why are iron objects galvanised?
How the model answer begins
1. Galvanisation of iron objects is done to protect them from rusting. In this process, a layer of zinc is coated on the surface of iron objects so that they do not come in direct contact with moisture and air.
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q10Short answer2 marksAsked: 2024
What is Anodising ?
How the model answer begins
1. Anodising is a process of forming a thick oxide layer of aluminium. Aluminium develops a thin oxide layer when exposed to air, and this oxide coat makes it resistant to further corrosion. The resistance can be improved…
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q11Short answer2 marksAsked: 2024
Write two differences between minerals and ores.
How the model answer begins
1. Minerals are elements or compounds occurring naturally in the earth's crust, whereas ores are those minerals from which a metal can be extracted conveniently and profitably.
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q12Short answer2 marksAsked: 2025
What is the difference between an atom and an ion ?
How the model answer begins
1. An atom is electrically neutral because it contains an equal number of protons and electrons. Since the number of positive charges (protons) balances the number of negative charges (electrons), the atom as a whole has…
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q13Short answer2 marksAsked: 2025
Define ores.
How the model answer begins
1. Minerals from which metals can be extracted easily and profitably are called ores.
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q14Short answer2 marksAsked: 2025
Which metallic property does graphite exhibit despite being a non-metal?
How the model answer begins
1. Graphite, which is a non-metal, is a good conductor of electricity. Non-metals have properties opposite to that of metals and are generally bad conductors of heat and electricity, but graphite is an exception to this…
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q15Short answer2 marksAsked: 2023
How is an alloy prepared from gold ?
How the model answer begins
1. Pure gold, known as 24 carat gold, is very soft and is, therefore, not suitable for making jewellery. So it is alloyed with either silver or copper to make it hard.
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q16Short answer2 marksAsked: 2022
What is an ore?
- Q17Short answer2 marksAsked: 2022
How is iron protected from rusting?
How the model answer begins
1. Iron objects are protected from rusting by applying a layer of paint, oil, grease, or varnish on their surface. This layer prevents the iron object from coming into contact with moisture and air, which are the…
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q18Short answer2 marksAsked: 2021
Differentiate between metals and non-metals on the basis of two physical properties.
How the model answer begins
1. Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity and are malleable, that is, they can be beaten into thin sheets, while non-metals are poor conductors of heat and electricity and are not malleable.
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q19Short answer2 marksAsked: 2021
What is an alloy ? Write the names and uses of two alloys.
How the model answer begins
1. An alloy is a homogeneous mixture of two or more metals, or a metal and a non-metal. It is prepared by first melting the primary metal, and then, dissolving the other elements in it in definite proportions, and then…
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q20Short answer2 marksAsked: 2021
Write the names and formulae of two ores of Zinc.
How the model answer begins
1. The first ore of zinc is Zinc Blende whose chemical formula is ZnS.
The full answer from Medha Ma’am →
2 more questions of this chapter, each with its model answer, in the AskMedha app.
Objective questions with the board’s key (10)
- 1. Bihar Board 2026
The alloy containing 90% Cu and 10% Sn is named
- (A) Solder
- (B) Brass
- (C) German Silver
- (D) Bronze ✓
Answer: (D)
- 2. Bihar Board 2026
Which of the following is the hardest natural substance ?
- (A) Silver
- (B) Iron
- (C) Diamond ✓
- (D) Coal
Answer: (C)
- 3. Bihar Board 2026
From which of the following it is easiest to remove an electron ?
- (A) M ✓
- (B) M^+
- (C) M^{2+}
- (D) M^{3+}
Answer: (A)
- 4. Bihar Board 2026
Which of the following is a non-metal ?
- (A) Fe
- (B) Al
- (C) C ✓
- (D) Ag
Answer: (C)
- 5. Bihar Board 2026
The process of coating iron with zinc is called
- (A) Corrosion
- (B) Electroplating
- (C) Galvanization ✓
- (D) None of these
Answer: (C)
- 6. Bihar Board 2026
Which of the following is the most reactive metal ?
- (A) Mg
- (B) Ca
- (C) Na
- (D) K ✓
Answer: (D)
- 7. Bihar Board 2026
An ore of mercury is
- (A) Bauxite
- (B) Haematite
- (C) Magnetite
- (D) Cinnabar ✓
Answer: (D)
- 8. Bihar Board 2026
Which of the following is the least reactive metal ?
- (A) Mg
- (B) Fe ✓
- (C) Zn
- (D) Al
Answer: (B)
- 9. Bihar Board 2026
In electrolysis, electrons are liberated at
- (A) anode ✓
- (B) cathode
- (C) both (A) and (B)
- (D) none of these
Answer: (A)
- 10. Bihar Board 2026
Which of the following metals can displace zinc from zinc sulphate solution ?
- (A) Sn
- (B) Fe
- (C) Mg ✓
- (D) Cu
Answer: (C)
Questions parents and students ask
- How many marks does "Metals and Non-metals" carry in Bihar Board Class 10 Science?
- In the Bihar Board papers of 2021–2026, this chapter carried about 6 marks and about 8 questions a year; by marks it ranks 5 in Science.
- Which are the most important (VVI) questions of "Metals and Non-metals"?
- The 20 questions above are from the board’s real papers, each with the years it was asked; the most-asked come first with their full model answers. All 22 written questions of this chapter, with answers, are in the AskMedha app.
- Do the answers follow the board’s marking scheme?
- BSEB does not publish a marking scheme. Each answer is written point by point on a structure derived from past papers and checked by a second, independent model; it is never called the board’s official scheme.
The same preparation, with Medha Ma’am — on your phone
Every question of every chapter with its model answer, practice questions in the board’s own shapes, 60 minutes of class a day, written answers marked, a test every Sunday and a WhatsApp report to parents.
Medha Ma’am is an AI teacher, not a live tutor. Every answer is checked twice; a person takes responsibility.